Bellevue officer booted off bomb squad for driving bomb squad truck after drinking

BELLEVUE, Wash. — A veteran Bellevue police officer was demoted for the second time in a year.

Officer Dion Robertson, 49, drove his bomb squad truck to a brewery for a work event.  According to investigators he drank three beers, then drove the truck home to Snoqualmie.

Robertson, a 24-year veteran of the force, was a member of the bomb squad and always on call.  He took turns driving the bomb squad truck home.

On November 10th the SWAT Team had an awards banquet at Issaquah Brewery. Robertson parked the bomb squad truck down the street at the Issaquah Police Department. Other officers reported to a supervisor that he drove the truck and they saw him drinking.

The internal investigation found that Robertson had 2 beers at the brewery with his dinner, then about 5 ounces of home-brewed beer at another officer’s house, then drove home.

The investigation determined Robertson’s driving was not impaired, the beer was consumed over several hours, but drinking and driving the truck violated department policy.

Bellevue Police Chief Linda Pillo criticized his actions. “Officer Robertson’s decisions that night are unacceptable to me and a clear violation of judgment.”

Robertson was kicked off the bomb squad, which will cost him a 4 percent reduction in pay.

Robertson was demoted in 2013 for drunk and disorderly conduct at a Seahawks game in 2012 with former Bellevue officer Andy Hanke. This latest incident has Chief Pillo watching his every move.

“He’s on very thin ice. If he continues having any type of behavior of this nature it can certainly lead to termination,” added Chief Pillo.

We’re waiting for Robertson’s most recent pay information. In 2007 he made nearly $90,000, but he’s been demoted since then. A four percent pay cut will cost Robertson around 5,000 dollars a year.

He is now a patrol officer. He didn’t want to talk about the demotion Thursday night.

KIRO